The e-Shram Card is a national identity card for unorganised workers issued through the e-Shram portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Registration is free, and each worker gets a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN). The card helps workers access social security schemes, including accident insurance cover, and lets the government reach them quickly during emergencies.
This guide explains who can register, benefits, documents, how to register online or at an Akshaya centre, and how to download the card.
e-Shram Card: Quick Facts
| Run by | Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India |
| Who can register | Unorganised workers aged 16 to 59 |
| Cost | Free |
| ID provided | 12-digit UAN on the e-Shram card |
| Key benefit | Access to social security schemes, including accident insurance cover |
| Portal | eshram.gov.in |
Who Is Eligible for the e-Shram Card?
- Age between 16 and 59 years.
- Works in the unorganised sector: construction workers, agricultural labourers, domestic workers, street vendors, auto and taxi drivers, fishermen, tailors, beedi workers, gig and platform workers, MGNREGA workers, small shop employees and similar.
- Not a member of EPFO (provident fund) or ESIC.
- Not an income tax payer.
Benefits of the e-Shram Card
- National identity: A UAN that identifies you as an unorganised worker anywhere in India.
- Accident insurance: Registered workers are linked to accident insurance under PMSBY as per scheme provisions, commonly ₹2 lakh for death or permanent disability and ₹1 lakh for partial disability.
- Access to schemes: Easier access to pension, housing, health and skill schemes for workers.
- Emergency support: The government can use the database to reach workers during disasters or pandemics.
- Job opportunities: The portal links to employment and skill platforms.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar card
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for OTP); otherwise biometric authentication at a CSC
- Bank account details (account number and IFSC)
- Details of occupation, education and skills
How to Register for the e-Shram Card Online
- Visit eshram.gov.in and click on the self-registration option.
- Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and captcha. Choose “No” for EPFO and ESIC membership.
- Verify with the OTP.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and complete Aadhaar authentication.
- Fill in personal details, address, education, occupation and skills.
- Enter your bank account details and submit.
- Download your e-Shram card with the UAN.
How to Register at an Akshaya Centre
If you do not have a smartphone or your Aadhaar is not linked to a mobile number, visit the nearest Akshaya centre or Common Service Centre. Carry your Aadhaar and bank passbook. The operator will register you using fingerprint authentication and print your e-Shram Card. Registration is free for workers; ask the centre if any service charge applies and avoid paying extra.
How to Download or Update Your e-Shram Card
- Go to eshram.gov.in and choose the option to update or download the card.
- Enter your UAN or Aadhaar-linked mobile number and verify with OTP.
- Update details such as address, occupation, mobile number or bank account if needed.
- Download the card in PDF format and save or print it.
Keep your details updated, especially your bank account and mobile number, so that benefits reach you correctly.
Who Should Register in Kerala?
Kerala has lakhs of unorganised workers in construction, fishing, coir, cashew, toddy tapping, plantation, domestic work, hotel work, headload work and transport. Many migrant workers from other states also work in Kerala. All of them can register for the e-Shram Card if they meet the eligibility conditions. Gig workers who deliver food and parcels through apps can also register as platform workers.
e-Shram and Kerala Welfare Boards
Kerala has several sector-specific welfare boards, such as the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Fishermen Welfare Fund Board and Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund Board. Membership in these boards provides state-level benefits like pension, education assistance and medical help. The e-Shram Card is a national registration and does not replace these boards. Workers can register for both to get maximum protection.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Registering when you are an EPFO or ESIC member. Such workers are not eligible.
- Giving wrong bank details, which can block benefits.
- Paying agents for registration, which is free.
- Not updating your mobile number after changing it.
- Believing fake messages that promise monthly cash transfers through the e-Shram Card.
Why the Government Created e-Shram
India has more than 40 crore workers in the unorganised sector, but for many years there was no central database of these workers. During the COVID-19 lockdown, it became clear that the government could not easily reach migrant and informal workers with relief. The e-Shram portal was launched in August 2021 to build a national database of unorganised workers, seeded with Aadhaar. Today, crores of workers across the country have registered, and the database is used to design and deliver welfare schemes more effectively.
Occupations Covered
The portal lists hundreds of occupations under broad categories such as agriculture, construction, apparel, domestic work, transport, retail, hospitality, fisheries, handicrafts, and gig and platform work. When registering, choose the occupation that best matches your main work. If you do more than one type of work, select your primary occupation and add skills where the portal allows.
Accident Insurance in Detail
One of the biggest benefits of registration is accident insurance through the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) as per the scheme’s provisions. In case of accidental death or total permanent disability, the nominee or worker can receive ₹2 lakh, and for partial permanent disability, ₹1 lakh. To claim, the family must contact the bank or the insurance company with the death certificate, FIR or post-mortem report where applicable, and the worker’s registration details. Keep your nominee details correct in your bank account and on the portal.
Gig and Platform Workers
Delivery partners, ride-hailing drivers and other app-based workers can register as platform workers. In recent years, the central government has announced steps to bring gig workers under social security, including health cover through PM-JAY for registered platform workers. If you work for delivery or ride-hailing apps in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode, registering now ensures you are included when new benefits are rolled out.
Using e-Shram With Other Schemes
- PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM): A voluntary pension scheme for unorganised workers aged 18–40 with monthly income up to ₹15,000, offering ₹3,000 per month after 60.
- Atal Pension Yojana: Guaranteed pension of ₹1,000–₹5,000 per month; see our APY guide.
- PMJJBY: Low-cost life insurance through your bank account.
- PM-JAY / KASP: Health cover for eligible families.
- Skill training: Links to skill development programmes for better jobs.
Real-Life Examples
Biju, a construction worker in Kollam
Biju works on building sites and is not covered by any provident fund. He visits an Akshaya centre with his Aadhaar and bank passbook and gets his e-Shram Card in fifteen minutes. A few months later, when he suffers a serious fall at work, his family is able to approach the bank for the accident insurance claim using his registration details.
Lakshmi, a domestic worker in Ernakulam
Lakshmi cleans homes in three apartments. She registers on her own smartphone using OTP. With her UAN, she later enrols in the PM-SYM pension scheme and starts contributing a small amount every month for her old age.
Arjun, a delivery partner in Thiruvananthapuram
Arjun delivers food through two apps. He registers as a platform worker so that he can benefit from social security measures announced for gig workers.
Step-by-Step Checklist
- Check that you are between 16 and 59 years old.
- Confirm you are not an EPFO or ESIC member and do not pay income tax.
- Keep your Aadhaar, Aadhaar-linked mobile and bank passbook ready.
- Register on the portal or at an Akshaya centre.
- Download and print your card.
- Add or verify your nominee in your bank account.
- Explore pension and insurance schemes using your UAN.
Beware of Fake Websites and Messages
Many fake websites and social media posts claim that registered workers will get ₹1,000 or more every month, or ask for payment to “activate” the card. The official portal is eshram.gov.in. The government does not ask for money for registration, and the card does not by itself guarantee monthly cash. Never share your OTP or bank PIN with anyone claiming to be from e-Shram.
What If You Get a Formal Job Later?
If you later join a job with EPFO or ESIC coverage, you become part of the organised sector. Update your status as required, because your eligibility for the unorganised worker database may change. Your provident fund and ESIC benefits will then provide social security through your employer.
Role of Trade Unions and Local Bodies
Trade unions, panchayats and welfare boards in Kerala have conducted special camps to register workers. Ask your union office, ward member or welfare board about upcoming camps. Group registration camps are especially helpful for older workers and migrant workers who need assistance.
Migrant Workers in Kerala and the e-Shram Card
Kerala is home to a large number of guest workers from states like West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand. Many of them work in construction, plywood units, hotels and fisheries. The e-Shram Card is especially useful for these workers because it is a national registration that works across states. Employers and contractors in Kerala can help their workers register, and the state’s labour department has also encouraged such registrations. Kerala’s own Aawaz health insurance for guest workers is a separate state initiative; ask the labour office for details.
How Employers Can Help
Small employers, contractors and households that employ domestic help can play an important role. Encourage workers to register, help them with the process at an Akshaya centre, and remind them to keep their mobile number and bank account updated. Registered workers are better protected, which also reduces risks for employers in case of accidents.
Keeping Your e-Shram Card Safe
Store a digital copy of the card on your phone and keep a printed copy with your Aadhaar. Share your UAN with a trusted family member so they can help with claims in an emergency. If you lose the card, simply log in and download it again.
Frequently Updated Rules
Social security for unorganised workers is an evolving area. The Code on Social Security and related rules may bring new benefits and procedures for registered workers. Check the official portal and trusted news sources, and follow our Government Schemes section for updates related to the e-Shram Card.
Summary
Registering for the e-Shram Card takes only a few minutes and costs nothing. It gives you a national worker identity, access to accident insurance and a gateway to pension, health and skill schemes. If you work in the unorganised sector and are between 16 and 59, register today.
Understanding Your UAN
The 12-digit Universal Account Number on your e-Shram Card is unique to you and stays the same for life. It is different from the UAN used by EPFO for provident fund members. Use it whenever a scheme or government office asks for your e-Shram registration. If you move to another state or city, you do not need to register again; just update your address on the portal.
Workers Above 59
Workers aged 60 and above cannot register on e-Shram. However, they may be eligible for other support, such as state welfare pensions, old-age pensions through local bodies, and health cover under schemes like the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card for those aged 70 and above. Read our Ayushman Vay Vandana guide for details.
Tips for Smooth Registration
- Use good internet connectivity when registering online.
- Type your name exactly as in Aadhaar.
- Choose the correct occupation code from the list.
- Double-check bank account number and IFSC before submitting.
- Note down your UAN and save the PDF immediately.
Can I register two times?
No. Each worker can have only one registration linked to their Aadhaar. Duplicate registrations are not allowed.
Is a bank account compulsory?
Bank details are required so that any benefits under linked schemes can be paid directly to you.
How Families Can Claim Insurance
If a registered worker dies or is permanently disabled in an accident, the family should act quickly:
- Inform the bank where the worker’s account is linked and ask about the PMSBY claim process.
- Collect documents: death certificate or disability certificate, FIR or police report for accidents, post-mortem report where applicable, hospital records and the worker’s e-Shram Card details.
- Submit the claim form with the nominee’s bank details and ID proof.
- Follow up with the bank and the insurance company until the claim is settled.
Claims should generally be filed within the time limit mentioned by the insurer, so do not delay. Local labour officers and Akshaya centres can guide families through the process.
e-Shram for Fishermen and Coastal Workers
Kerala’s coastal districts have many fishermen and fish processing workers who face high occupational risks. Registering for the e-Shram Card, along with membership in the Matsyafed and Fishermen Welfare Fund Board, gives them a combination of national accident cover and state welfare benefits. Fisheries officers often organise registration camps in harbours and fishing villages.
Plantation and Agricultural Workers
Workers in tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom estates in Idukki, Wayanad and other districts, as well as agricultural labourers in paddy fields, are classic examples of unorganised workers. Many do not have provident fund cover. The e-Shram Card gives them a recognised identity that can be used to access insurance and pension schemes. Estate managements and trade unions can help organise registrations.
Students Working Part-Time
Students aged 16 and above who work part-time in shops, delivery services or other informal jobs can also register if they meet the conditions. It helps them access accident insurance and builds a record of their work, though they should update their status when they move to formal employment.
Can I register without a smartphone?
Yes. Visit any Akshaya or Common Service Centre with your Aadhaar and bank passbook. The operator will register you using fingerprint authentication.
Does registration help in getting a job?
The portal links to employment and skill platforms, which can help you find training and job opportunities, but registration itself does not guarantee a job.
Do not wait for an emergency. Register for your e-Shram Card today, keep the card safe and share the information with fellow workers.
Important Links
- Official portal: eshram.gov.in
- All schemes: Government Schemes 2026
- Pension option: Atal Pension Yojana
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the e-Shram Card free?
Yes. Registration on the e-Shram portal is free.
Who cannot register?
EPFO and ESIC members, income tax payers, and people below 16 or above 59 years.
Does the e-Shram card give monthly money?
No. The card itself does not provide a monthly payment. It helps workers access insurance and other schemes. Ignore messages claiming otherwise.
Can migrant workers in Kerala register?
Yes, if they meet the eligibility conditions. They can register with their Aadhaar and current address.
What is the UAN?
A 12-digit Universal Account Number printed on the card that identifies each registered worker.
How do I update my details?
Log in to the portal with your UAN or mobile number and use the update profile option.
Disclaimer: e-Shram Card benefits and insurance provisions are as per government guidelines and may change. Check eshram.gov.in for the latest details.